Archive for the ‘Feature Stories’ Category

Grace College students Kaylee Kercher, resident of Goshen, Ind., and Michelle Sweers, resident of Union, Mich., spent the summer of 2016 creating art at AkzoNobel Powder Coatings in Warsaw, Ind. After two months of sketching and outlining, and over 100 hours of painting, the duo produced a landscape masterpiece on a conference room wall.

“Employees got to watch the project unfold,” said Deanna Cripe, Powder Coating’s Warsaw buyer. “Day by day, a beautiful sea of tulips with a snowcapped mountain range, and even a windmill, emerged. We are pleased with the result! Michelle and Kaylee were also very professional; their work impressed our team.”

AkzoNobel Powder Coatings is a world-wide provider of solvent-free spray paint for every surface. Since arriving in 2015, Mojmir Mocek, Warsaw’s Powder Coatings plant manager, has pursued a variety of business improvements. The mural project was Mocek’s inspiration for beautifying the building. Through a partnership with Kim M. Reiff, professor and chair of the Visual, Performing and Media Arts Department at Grace College, Kercher and Sweers were chosen for the job.

“We completely enjoyed creating the mural for Powder Coatings,” said Sweers. “It was so cool to have people walk by and appreciate our work. It was also a great real-world experience and application of our skills.”

Kercher, an illustration major, and Sweers, an art major, earned applied learning credit by interning at Powder Coatings. Grace College’s applied learning and internship programs prepare students to enter the workforce after graduation. They supply substantial resume material and experience in the student’s field of interest. Applied learning is required for each academic program at Grace; undergraduate students must earn ten percent of their bachelor’s degree by attaining 12 credit hours of applied learning. Positions include part-time summer jobs, research projects, cross-cultural field experiences and community service projects. Applied learning can lead to internships and eventual employment.

Four members of Grace’s cross country team were awarded Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete distinction. Emma Mitchell represented Grace’s women’s team as a Scholar-Athlete, and a trio of men (Hunter Reed, Nathan Lane and Tim Drew)were honored on the men’s side.

To become a Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must be an upperclassman and maintain a GPA of 3.5.

To cap off yet another trip to NCCAA Nationals, Grace’s men’s soccer team was honored with two All-American awards.

Cody Boerema was named NCCAA 2nd Team All-American after his freshman season, and Jon Sands was an NCCAA 3rd Team All-American.

Boerema earned the honor as the catalyst for Grace’s offense for much of the season. He tallied 10 goals to tie for third-most in the Crossroads League.

Sands, who was also named to the NCCAA All-Tournament Team, was one of three players to start all 22 matches. The senior helped secure a formidable defensive line for the Lancers, yielding just 24 goals in all competitions.

Boerema, Sands, Jon Christensen and Damon Binkley were all named to the NCCAA All-Region Team, and Matt Hotchkin was elected the region’s Coach of the Year.

In the classroom, Grace picked up two Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes: Christensen and Robbie Barnhill. To become a Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must maintain a GPA of 3.5 and achieve upperclassman status.

The Lancers reached the NCCAA National Championship for the fourth time in six years under Hotchkin’s guidance.

Grace College & Seminary’s Military Program was recently awarded two designations: Top Military College from Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) and Military Friendly School from Victory Media.

“It’s an honor to receive these awards,” said Robert Neufer, veteran’s specialist at Grace College & Seminary. “They help showcase our commitment to aid military and veteran students in achieving their academic goals and fulfilling their life’s calling.”

Grace College & Seminary was chosen as a top school in the 2017 MAE&T “Guide to Colleges & Universities” research study. The award is given to institutions with the best practices in military and veteran education. This is Grace’s second year as a top college.

Grace has been recognized as a Military Friendly School since 2011. This award measures an organization’s level of commitment and success in creating opportunities and positive outcomes for members of the military community. “This designation showcases Grace’s commitment to military, veteran and their dependent students,” says Neufer. The award was given to Grace based on excellence in academic policies, student support, retention and graduation rates, and a military-friendly culture.

“Grace has many academic options,” said Neufer. “Students can earn their degree as a military chaplain, choose from more than 70 undergraduate majors, complete their degree online or enroll in graduate-level theological training.” Popular military student degrees include accounting, biology, communication and design engineering technology.

A variety of amenities are available at Grace to ensure military students’ comfort and success. The Veteran’s Lounge provides a place for fellowship, study and relaxation. Grace’s Student Veteran Organization gives veterans a voice on campus and provides an opportunity to gather and share ideas. In addition, Grace offers a recreation and fitness center, academic assistance and counseling services. “Grace strives to provide military and veteran students with a supportive community of people who ‘get it,’” said Neufer.

Grace College & Seminary employs military-friendly admission and academic policies to ensure that military and veteran students are well-supported. Grace accepts a variety of military training, course work and exams for college credit and provides the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship to students with 100% eligibility under the Post 9-11 GI Bill. Neufer, a 24-year Air Force veteran, is on hand to assist military and veteran students with VA benefits and help ensure their academic and personal success in any way possible.

In addition to the main campus in Winona Lake, some degree programs are also offered at two Indianapolis-area locations and fully online. For more information about Grace’s military program, visit www.grace.edu/militarystudents/ or contact Robert Neufer at 574-372-5100, ext. 6028.

DeeAnna Muraski, associate director in the Center for Career Connections at Grace College, recently designed and created four beautiful windows that depict “the light of Christ shining brightly” at the entrance to her office in Indiana Hall. Muraski used a technique called “gridding” to create the pieces of art, which caught the attention of local art columnist, Darla McCammon. The following story appeared in InkFree News.

There is an artistic technique that bodes well for the holiday Christmas season. In fact, you can go visit a clever and colorful display exhibiting the technique in Indiana Hall on Grace College’s campus.

I asked Ms. Muraski what gave her the idea and she said, “We had a competition going on to see which department could make the best door decoration. The contest came up while I was on vacation and was over by the time I returned. However, as I kept walking through our un-decorated door I decided to do something! So I created windows reflecting the light of Christ shining brightly for all to enjoy – even myself!”

I admired her windows and said, “These are really good. Are you an artist?” That’s when she smiled at me and said, “No. I modified a technique called gridding.”

Brittany Braun, a senior majoring in sport management, is the blood drive coordinator. “The drive is open to the public,” said Braun. “Community members are welcome to walk in during our open hours and donate!”

Interested students are advised to sign up in Alpha Dining Commons on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7, during meal times. “Blood drive representatives will be present to help students get a time slot,” said Braun.

She encourages community members and students to participate. “This event helps saves lives,” Braun added. “When one person donates blood, they have the potential to help save the lives of three others.”

The entire blood donation process takes about an hour; however, the donation itself will only last eight to ten minutes. Eligible donors are required to show a form of ID during registration. Next, certified individuals will check the donor’s temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin levels. After the donation is complete, the donor can rest and enjoy a few refreshments before carrying on with their day.

Grace College is pleased to host its third annual Night Market on Friday, Dec. 9, from 2 – 9 p.m. in the Winona Heritage Room, 901 Park Ave, Winona Lake. Night Market is an alternative Christmas shopping experience. Many vendors will be present, including those from local businesses, non-profit organizations and independent artists. Items include home décor, jewelry, clothing, toys and much more.

“Night Market is unique because it allows the community to support local vendors, donate to a variety of causes and give one-of-a-kind gifts,” said Kearstin Criswell, director of student involvement at Grace College. “We’re looking forward to serving Warsaw and Winona Lake through the event again this year.”

Participating organizations and businesses include Grace Refuge Outreach Worldwide (GROW), Creative Women of the World and One World Handcrafts. These vendors donate a portion of their proceeds to a variety of causes including sex trafficking victims, adoption funding and fair wages for workers. Other vendors, including many Grace College students, will give a portion of their proceeds to Boomerang Backpacks, a food distribution program for low-income children in northeast Indiana.

Live Christmas music performed by student musicians from Grace will begin at 5 p.m. Rise’n Roll doughnuts will be sold by the single or dozen with proceeds to benefit Boomerang Backpacks. Additionally, individuals and families can pay $3 to pack a backpack for a student in the community. Packing stations will be set up at Night Market for this purpose.

“We encourage parents to bring their kids after school, grab a snack and enjoy the Night Market experience,” said Criswell. “It’s a very family-friendly event.”

In the last six years, enrollment in Grace College’s sport management program has quadrupled in size. While the program has existed for 20 years, in 2010 it joined the Grace College School of Business. Dr. Darrell Johnson, professor and chair of the sport management department, attributes the program’s growth to diverse concentration options.

Grace’s sport management program focuses on applied learning to prepare students for a variety of career options. Areas of study include sport business, marketing, media, ministry, psychology and event management. “The wide range of study options is unique,” said Johnson. “By combining sports and business, students can pair the sport they enjoy with studies that will prepare them for a rewarding career.”

Kiera Gray, originally from Fort Wayne, Ind., graduated from Grace College in 2012 with a B.A. in Pre-Medicine and Biology. Initially, Gray planned to focus solely on her majors. But when a basketball injury prevented her from finishing her junior season, Gray stay at Grace another year and earn a sport management minor. “I prayed long and hard for God to lead me in the direction He wanted me to go. It wasn’t until my physical rehabilitation that it clicked.” While completing the sport management program, Gray decided to pursue a career as a physical therapist. “It was my opportunity to combine what I loved: sports and medicine,” Gray said.

In pursuit of her B.A. at Grace, Gray worked in the Gordon Recreation Center on campus for her required practicum experience, as a volunteer for the NCCAA championship tournament in the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center and as an intern in a local physical therapy office. Her course work and applied learning experiences prepared Gray for future success as a business woman and owner of a company. “My work experience during college added to my resume tremendously and gave me the confidence to pursue the career of my dreams.”

Before graduating, Gray was hired by Concentra Physical Therapy in Michigan as a physical therapy technician. She was transferred to Atlanta, Ga., a year later, and in total, worked for Concentra for three and one-half years. During that time, Kiera started her own business, GCA Elite Sports Management, LLC. “My company runs and manages a number of sport and athletic programs, facilities and events in Fort Wayne and Atlanta,” Gray said.

“While my initial plan was to pursue a doctorate of physical therapy after working as a PT technician for a couple years, the profitability of my company shifted my focus to managing my business. But I haven’t left PT behind for good,” she added. “The relationships I built with physicians and therapists during my time at Concentra may allow me to add another sector to my business. I’m excited to see where God takes me next,” Gray concluded.

Kiera Gray is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration through Grace’s online graduate degree program and plans to complete her degree next year. To learn more about Grace College’s sport management program, contact Darrell Johnson at dljohnson@grace.edu or call 574-372-5100 ext. 6263. For more about Grace’s online MBA, visit online.grace.edu.

Beyond the Brick, a Michiana-based YouTube show hosted by Grace College senior Joshua Hanlon, will hold its third annual “Creations for Charity” 24-hour live stream on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26. The web event will raise money to purchase LEGO sets for children in need this Christmas. The live stream begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Beyond the Brick’s Creations for Charity event will feature all-things LEGO, from set construction to interviews with some of the world’s top brick builders. In the past two years, the one-day live stream has raised nearly $10,000 worth of LEGO sets for children during the holidays.

“LEGO was a big part of my childhood,” said Hanlon. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help other children experience LEGO and all of the creativity and exploration that comes with LEGO building.” All funds raised during Creations for Charity will be used to purchase LEGO sets for children in need. Hanlon plans to distribute most of the sets to a South Bend hospital “because kids there need toys to occupy them while they recover,” he said. Hanlon recounts a story from a young boy with cancer who was confined to a hospital. “He told me that watching Beyond the Brick was the highlight of his day as he went through cancer treatments in the hospital. I can’t think of a better place to donate LEGO sets and make a difference in kids’ lives,” he said.

Beyond the Brick was created by Hanlon in 2011. Attracting more than three million YouTube views a month, Hanlon and his brother and cameraman, John, travel the world to spotlight jaw-dropping LEGO creations built by adult artists. More than 100,000 YouTube subscribers and 800 videos later, Beyond the Brick is one of the most popular online destinations for LEGO enthusiasts across the globe.

“My favorite thing about YouTube is the potential global impact through posting videos there,” said Hanlon. “Children, teens and adults from all over the world – from Brazil to Australia to Norway – can watch Beyond the Brick and be inspired by builders sharing their wonderful creations.”

The show grew out of Hanlon’s desire to highlight talented builders in the LEGO community. “My goal is to talk with these builders and discover what inspired them, and then share their tips and insights with our viewers,” he said. “Beyond the Brick has helped bring people together in a way that I never would have thought possible.”

LEGO fans worldwide are invited to watch and participate in the conversation Nov. 25 and 26. The Creations for Charity event will be produced on the Beyond the Brick TV YouTube channel. For more information on the event and to link to the live stream, visit creationsforcharity.org. Those interested in donating to purchase LEGO sets for children in need can do so through PayPal at https://goo.gl/PNDSwM.

Grace College is now accepting applications for its Grace Opportunities for Adult Learners (GOAL) program in Indianapolis. The bachelor’s degree completion program is offered at two Indianapolis-area locations: 9302 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis (near 96th St. & Meridian St.), and at Greenwood Christian Academy, 835 W. Worthsville Rd., Greenwood.

GOAL is a unique, affordable program for adults who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree while maintaining family and work commitments. It is specifically designed for associate degree graduates and adults who have interrupted their four-year degree for other responsibilities. GOAL classes are held one night per week and on two Saturdays per semester. Building upon previous college credits and life-long learning experiences equivalent to about two years of college, a B.S. in Management can be completed in as little as 16 months.

Grace College is committed to making higher education affordable and attainable to as many students as possible. GOAL is priced substantially below most degree completion programs. In addition, Grace offers discounts to associate degree graduates from some local colleges including Ancilla College, Crossroads Bible College, Harrison College and Ivy Tech Community College.

GOAL classes at both Indianapolis-area locations will begin in January, 2017. The GOAL program is also offered at the main campus in Winona Lake, Ind., and completely online. In addition, Grace College Indianapolis offers associate degrees with concentrations in liberal arts and business. For more information or to apply, visit www.grace.edu/indy, call 855-927-4631 or email admissions counselor Bethany Wottring at bethany.wottring@grace.edu.